New trucking company
How to start a trucking company in the US: steps, costs, insurance
Twelve steps from forming the LLC to the first load. Each step shows who does it, what the service costs, the government fee and how long it takes. Insurance is not an add-on here: without the insurance filing the MC never becomes active.
TruckerNavi Inc and SafeBridge are two private companies with one owner, not FMCSA and not a government agency; you can also file with FMCSA yourself. You do not need to buy insurance from SafeBridge for any TruckerNavi service, and it does not change their price.
This page is run by SafeBridge, a licensed insurance producer (NJ license 3004390206, NPN 22313558). The company itself is set up by TruckerNavi Inc, a company with the same owner. About the license
12 steps from the LLC to the first load
The $499 TruckerNavi Authority Bundle covers steps 1, 2, 3 and 6 plus the Clearinghouse registration in step 7. Government fees come on top and go to the government.
Step 1. Company: LLC or corporation
The company that will hold the USDOT and the MC. Usually an LLC in the state where the truck is based. Once the company is formed, it needs an EIN, its federal tax ID from the IRS.
- Who does it
- The state forms the company. TruckerNavi files the application, or you do it yourself on the state's website
- Service price
- Included in the $499 Authority Bundle
- Government fee
- Your state's fee, different in each state: for example NJ $100, IL $150, GA $110, TX $300
- Time
- Set by the state
Step 2. USDOT and the MC application in Motus
Since May 19, 2026, FMCSA registration runs through Motus. The owner passes the identity check personally: a photo of the ID and a selfie from a phone, about 20 minutes. Nobody can pass it for the owner.
- Who does it
- You pass the identity check. TruckerNavi files the application, or you do it yourself
- Service price
- Included in the $499 Authority Bundle
- Government fee
- $300 to FMCSA for each type of authority, not refundable; card payment
- Time
- FMCSA does not publish a processing time for Motus. If the application is selected for vetting, FMCSA's page says it can take 8 more weeks or longer
Step 3. BOC-3: process agent
The designation of agents who accept legal papers for the company in the states. For a motor carrier, only the process agent can file the BOC-3; the carrier cannot file it itself.
- Who does it
- A process agent; in the package TruckerNavi arranges the filing
- Service price
- Filing included in the $499 Authority Bundle; the process agent's fee of about $35 on top
- Government fee
- None: FMCSA does not charge for the BOC-3, the $35 goes to the process agent
- Time
- On file with FMCSA within 20 days of publication, together with the insurance filing
Step 4. Publication and the 10-day protest window
FMCSA publishes the application in the FMCSA Register. A protest can be filed within 10 days after publication (49 CFR 365.203T). FMCSA offers no paid expedite.
- Who does it
- FMCSA
- Service price
- None
- Government fee
- None
- Time
- 10 days after publication
Required for an active MC
Step 5. Insurance with the federal filing
Without insurance the MC never becomes active: FMCSA will not grant authority until the minimum coverage is on file. The insurance company sends the BMC-91 or BMC-91X filing to FMCSA itself. The federal minimum for a carrier of non-hazardous property in a truck of 10,001 lbs or more is $750,000 of liability (BIPD, 49 CFR 387.303T). Our standard quote: auto liability of $1,000,000 with the federal filing plus cargo at the minimum limit; physical damage and other coverages only if you ask. For a truck based in New Jersey, state law requires at least $1,500,000 of liability for a commercial motor vehicle ($300,000 for one of 10,001 to 26,000 lbs; P.L.2023, c.276, policies from July 1, 2024), and NJ IRP registration needs a certificate of insurance for $1,500,000.
- Who does it
- A licensed insurance producer at SafeBridge, or any licensed agent you choose; the insurance company files
- Service price
- By quote only: the insurance company sets the price
- Government fee
- None for you to pay: the insurance company files
- Time
- The filing and the BOC-3 are due within 20 days from the date the application is published in the FMCSA Register (49 CFR 365.109T(a)(5)-(6)). If they are late, FMCSA serves a decision: the application will be dismissed unless you comply within 60 more days. The $300 fee is not refunded. The clock starts at publication, not at payment of the fee
Step 6. UCR
The annual Unified Carrier Registration; the fee depends on the number of vehicles. New Jersey does not take part in UCR: a New Jersey company registers through a participating state.
- Who does it
- TruckerNavi, or you yourself at ucr.gov
- Service price
- Included in the $499 Authority Bundle
- Government fee
- $46 for 2026 and $55 for 2027 at 0-2 vehicles
- Time
- Before January 1 of the registration year; 2027 registration has been open since October 1, 2026
Step 7. Drug & Alcohol and the Clearinghouse
Needed when the driver holds a CDL. The company registers in the Clearinghouse as an employer. An owner who drives names a consortium (C/TPA) in the Clearinghouse and joins its random testing pool. Before the first trip the driver needs a pre-employment drug test with a verified negative result (49 CFR 382.301).
- Who does it
- TruckerNavi, or you yourself
- Service price
- Clearinghouse registration included in the $499 Authority Bundle; Drug & Alcohol consortium $150 a year, tests paid separately
- Government fee
- $1.25 per Clearinghouse query (FMCSA)
- Time
- Before the CDL driver's first trip
Step 8. The MC becomes active
Once the insurance filing and the BOC-3 are on file and the protest window has passed, the authority becomes active. Check a new application in your Motus account: since May 14, 2026 the L&I system shows only older records.
- Who does it
- FMCSA
- Service price
- None
- Government fee
- None
- Time
- FMCSA publishes no timeline; without the insurance filing the application never becomes active
Step 9. Form 2290 (HVUT)
The federal heavy vehicle use tax for a truck with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 lbs or more. The stamped Schedule 1 is needed to register the truck in your state.
- Who does it
- TruckerNavi, or you yourself with the IRS
- Service price
- $99
- Government fee
- The tax goes to the IRS; the amount depends on the weight
- Time
- By the last day of the month after the month of first use
Step 10. IRP and IFTA
Needed for a truck with two axles and a weight over 26,000 lbs (or with three or more axles) that runs in two or more states. IRP gives you apportioned plates; IFTA splits the fuel tax among the states. Both accounts are opened in your base state.
- Who does it
- TruckerNavi, or you yourself in your base state
- Service price
- IRP: opening $399 (up to 2 trucks, +$49 for each additional truck). IFTA: license and decals $149, quarterly return $99
- Government fee
- States' apportioned IRP fees, your base state's fee for IFTA decals
- Time
- Before the first trip to other states (trip permits cover occasional trips); an IFTA return every quarter
Step 11. State permits
Separate registrations and road taxes in some states: NY HUT, Kentucky KYU, New Mexico WDT, Connecticut HUF, Oregon weight-mile. Which ones you need depends on your routes.
- Who does it
- TruckerNavi, or you yourself in each state
- Service price
- From $99 per permit ($99-199); trip or fuel permit $59
- Government fee
- State fees and taxes
- Time
- Before the first trip through those states
Step 12. First load and what comes next
You can haul under your own MC only once the authority is active. For a broker, your producer issues a certificate of insurance (COI) on a paid policy. Within 12 months after you receive the USDOT number, FMCSA runs a new entrant safety audit, usually not earlier than 3 months into operations (49 CFR 385.3, 385.307).
- Who does it
- You and the broker; your producer issues the COI
- Service price
- None
- Government fee
- None
- Time
- New entrant audit: within 12 months after receiving the USDOT
Price comparison as of October 30, 2026
Other services, bought in parts
$612-912 plus fees
TruckerNavi, Authority Bundle
$499 plus fees and the process agent's fee of about $35
- We compared the company setup: LLC, USDOT, MC, BOC-3 and UCR. Among the offers compared, only TruckerNavi includes the Clearinghouse registration in the package.
- FMCSA and state fees come on top in both cases; one of the compared offers already includes the UCR fee in its price.
- TruckerNavi also adds the process agent's BOC-3 fee of about $35 on top (not a government fee); the compared services include the BOC-3 in their sums.
- Other companies' prices are taken from their websites on October 30, 2026 and may change.
TruckerNavi Inc and SafeBridge are two private companies with one owner, not FMCSA and not a government agency; you can also file with FMCSA yourself. You do not need to buy insurance from SafeBridge for any TruckerNavi service, and it does not change their price.
Already have a USDOT?
Check your company's FMCSA record: the authority status and the insurance on file. If the MC is waiting for insurance, go on to the quote.
Have questions?
Leave your number and our specialist will call you back.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a trucking company in 2026?
The TruckerNavi Authority Bundle is $499 one time: LLC, USDOT, MC, BOC-3, UCR and Clearinghouse. Government fees come on top: $300 to FMCSA for each type of authority, UCR $46 for 2026 and $55 for 2027 at 0-2 vehicles and your state's LLC fee (for example NJ $100, IL $150, TX $300). A process agent also charges about $35 for the BOC-3, which is not a government fee. Insurance is separate and priced by quote.
Can I start the company myself, without TruckerNavi?
Yes. You can apply yourself through Motus at fmcsa.dot.gov and pay only the government fees: FMCSA says the government generally does not require the use of private businesses or vendors. Only a process agent can file a carrier's BOC-3, and it charges its own fee (about $35). The owner passes the Motus identity check personally either way. TruckerNavi and SafeBridge are private companies, not FMCSA.
How long does it take to get an active MC?
FMCSA does not publish a firm timeline for Motus applications. By the rules, the protest window runs 10 days after the application is published in the FMCSA Register, and the insurance filing (BMC-91 or BMC-91X) and the BOC-3 are due within 20 days of publication. If the application is selected for vetting, FMCSA's page says it can take 8 more weeks or longer. There is no paid expedite.
When do I need insurance, and what happens if I am late?
The MC does not become active without an insurance filing: FMCSA will not grant authority until the minimum coverage is on file. The filing and the BOC-3 are due within 20 days of publication (49 CFR 365.109T(a)(5)-(6)). If they are late, FMCSA serves a decision and gives 60 more days; then the application is dismissed and the $300 is not refunded. It is convenient to start the quote while the application waits for publication.
What insurance limits does a new MC need?
The federal minimum for a carrier of non-hazardous property in a truck of 10,001 lbs or more is $750,000 of liability (BIPD), filed as BMC-91 or BMC-91X (49 CFR 387.303T). Our standard quote: auto liability of $1,000,000 with the federal filing plus cargo at the minimum limit; physical damage and other coverages only if you ask. For a truck based in New Jersey, state law requires at least $1,500,000 of liability for a commercial motor vehicle ($300,000 for one of 10,001 to 26,000 lbs; P.L.2023, c.276, policies from July 1, 2024), and NJ IRP registration needs a certificate of insurance for $1,500,000. Only the insurance company's quote sets the price.
Do I have to buy insurance from SafeBridge if TruckerNavi sets up my company?
No. TruckerNavi Inc and SafeBridge are two companies with one owner, but buying insurance from SafeBridge is not a condition of any TruckerNavi service and does not change its price. You can buy insurance from any licensed agent. When we quote, a licensed insurance producer does it.
Why does the BOC-3 cost about $35 if it is not a government fee?
For a motor carrier, only the designated process agent can file the BOC-3, and the agent charges its own fee of about $35. FMCSA charges nothing for the BOC-3. In the Authority Bundle, TruckerNavi arranges the BOC-3 filing.
Do I need a Drug & Alcohol program if I drive my own truck?
Yes, if you hold a CDL. A company with one CDL driver must put that driver in a consortium for random testing, and an owner who drives names a consortium (C/TPA) in the Clearinghouse. Before the first trip you need a pre-employment drug test with a verified negative result. A TruckerNavi consortium membership is $150 a year.
Where to start
TruckerNavi sets up the company; a licensed insurance producer at SafeBridge quotes the insurance for MC activation. They are two companies with one owner, and neither is a condition of the other.
Good to know
- SafeBridge and TruckerNavi Inc are private companies. They are not FMCSA, USDOT or any government agency and are not affiliated with them.
- You can file with FMCSA yourself through Motus at fmcsa.dot.gov and pay only the government fees; only a process agent can file a carrier's BOC-3, and it charges its own fee (about $35).
- Government fees are listed separately and go to the government.
- TruckerNavi Inc and SafeBridge are two companies with one owner. You do not need to buy insurance from SafeBridge for any TruckerNavi service, and it does not change the price of TruckerNavi services. You can buy insurance from any licensed agent.
- Insurance is placed by SafeBridge, a licensed insurance producer, NJ license 3004390206, NPN 22313558.
- Deadlines and fees come from the eCFR and the FMCSA, UCR Plan, IRS and state websites; page updated October 30, 2026. This is a guide, not legal advice.
THIS PRODUCT OR SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR ENDORSED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, AND THIS OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE BY AN AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Sources
- FMCSA: Get Operating Authority ($300 fee)
- FMCSA: Insurance Filing Requirements (20 and 60 days)
- eCFR: 49 CFR 365.109T (insurance and BOC-3 within 20 days)
- eCFR: 49 CFR 365.203T (10-day protest window)
- eCFR: 49 CFR 387.303T (insurance minimums)
- New Jersey: P.L.2023, c.276 (liability minimums)
- UCR Plan: 2026 and 2027 fees
- FMCSA: Fraud Alerts
- IRS: Form 2290 instructions